Best VPN Service Providers In 2023
There are lots of logical reasons why you should get the best VPN service providers in the information security industry. First, you need the best virtual private network to hide your internet browsing activities. I’m sure you don’t want anybody to lurk around and monitor every activity that you do online. That would be dangerous since hackers and social engineers can use these types of information to cause harm in the future. You might fall into their traps or become a victim of phishing and all sorts of scams. Besides, you need to hide your web browsing history and all other kinds of internet activity so that you can better protect your identity and data privacy.
Aside from that, I also urge you to use the best VPN service provider if you are constantly using online banking. There have been so many successful hacking attempts simply because people don’t know how to use a virtual private network system whenever connecting to public Wi-Fi. As a result, many people have experienced losing all of their hard-earned money and all of their savings because of this particular cybercrime. On top of that, identity theft can also be prevented if you regularly use the best VPN service provider in the industry.
You can also hide your real location using the best virtual private network platform. With the use of trustworthy VPN service providers, you can change your I.P. address that is used to connect your local computer to the internet. In this manner, No one would be able to track down your current location while browsing the web. Furthermore, you can also bypass geo-restrictions placed by various video streaming services. On top of that, the best VPN service is basically recommended in certain countries with very strict internet censorship, massive surveillance, as well and intelligence gathering policies.
| # | Service | Rating | Description | Paid Plan | Go To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NordVPN | NordVPN is a reliable virtual private network platform that can accommodate 6 simultaneous VPN connections. It prides itself with its Internet Kill Switch capability & Double VPN technology. NordVPN also has the CyberSec feature that will block ads and malware. This VPN service provider currently has 12 million users worldwide. | $11.95/month | Go To NordVPN | |
| 2 | ExpressVPN | ExpressVPN is one of the best virtual private network systems created in 2009. It gives you access to more than 3,000 VPN servers worldwide. ExpressVPN is currently using zero-knowledge DNS on all of its servers. This VPN service provider is currently equipped with a split tunneling feature as well as internet kill switch. | $12.95/month | Go To ExpressVPN | |
| 3 | VeePN | VeePN is a Panama-based virtual private network platform that has more than 5 million service subscribers worldwide. It uses 256-bit AES encryption in approximately 2,500 VPN servers worldwide. VeePN is also equipped with Double VPN technology to significantly increase the level of encryption. There is a 7-day free trial available. | $10.99/month | Go To VeePN | |
| 4 | CyberGhost VPN | CyberGhost VPN is a Romanian-based virtual private network platform that has been created in 2011. It currently has more than 6,800 VPN servers in 111 locations. With this virtual private provider, you can protect 7 devices simultaneously. It also has 256-bit AES encryption & zero-logging policy. CyberGhost VPN has more than 36 million users worldwide. | $12.99/month | Go To CyberGhost VPN | |
| 5 | VPNArea | VPNArea is a virtual private network platform created by Offshore Security LTD in Bulgaria in 2012. It can run 6 simultaneous VPN connections and is capable of implementing the Stealth VPN protocol. Aside from its internet kill switch capability, VPNArea also has P2P VPN servers available. However, its Double VPN feature is still quite limited. | $9.90/month | Go To VPNArea | |
| 6 | Avast SecureLine VPN | SecureLine VPN is one of the flagship products of Avast, a known cybersecurity company with over 400 million users worldwide. It allows you to establish 5 simultaneous VPN connections in 34 countries worldwide. It has an internet kill switch and supports torrenting and P2P file sharing. However, it has no split tunneling feature available. | $59.88/year | Go To Avast SecureLine VPN | |
| 7 | HideMyAss VPN | HideMyAss VPN is one of the most popular virtual private network systems with over 400 million users worldwide. With this VPN provider, you can gain access to more than 1,000 servers located in 190 countries worldwide. One of its notable features is I.P. Shuffle which allows you to change your I.P. address automatically on a regular interval. | $83.88/year | Go To HideMyAss VPN | |
| 8 | IPVanish VPN | IPVanish VPN is a reliable virtual private network system created in 2012 by Mudhook Media Inc. It has been later acquired by J2 Global in 2019. IPVanish VPN is capable of making 10 simultaneous VPN connections. It currently has split tunneling feature for Android and Amazon Fire devices on top of its internet kill switch capability. | $11.99/month - Regular Price | Go To IPVanish | |
| 9 | PersonalVPN | PersonalVPN is a USA-based virtual private network platform created by Witopia Inc. in 2005. It allows you to establish 8 simultaneous VPN connections. It also has a stealth mode feature that uses server obfuscation. It also has an internet kill switch feature. PersonalVPN implements zero-logging policy as well as perfect forward secrecy. | $5.99/month | Go To PersonalVPN | |
| 10 | PrivateVPN | PrivateVPN is a virtual private network system created by Privat Kommunikation Sverige AB in Sweden in 2009. It allows you to make 6 simultaneous VPN connections in more than 150 server locations worldwide. It supports P2P & Torrent. Aside from its internet kill switch technology, the Stealth VPN protocol can also be activated easily. | $7.67/month | Go To PrivateVPN | |
| 11 | PureVPN | PureVPN is a virtual private network platform in Hong Kong that became publicly available in 2009. It is capable of establishing 10 simultaneous VPN connections in more than 2,134 servers across 140 countries worldwide. PureVPN has split tunneling feature as well as a multi-port feature. Its internet kill switch program is also easily accessible. | $10.95/month | Go To PureVPN | |
| 12 | Surfshark VPN | Surfshark VPN is a virtual private network system created by Surfshark LTD and is currently operating in the British Virgin Islands. It is really very popular in the industry because of its capability to establish unlimited simultaneous VPN connections. Aside from internet kill switch and split tunneling, it has Multi Hop VPN and Stealth VPN. | $11.95/month | Go To Surfshark VPN | |
| 13 | VyprVPN | VyprVPN is a virtual private network platform created by Golden Frog in Meggen, Switzerland in 2009. While you can only have 5 simultaneous VPN connections, you can access 200,000 shared I.P. addresses with VyprVPN. It currently has more than 700 servers worldwide. It has internet kill switch, split tunneling, VyprDNS & Chameleon VPN. | $12.95/month | Go To VyprVPN | |
| 14 | Windscribe VPN | Windscribe VPN is a Canada-based virtual private network platform created by Windscribe Limited in 2016. You can enjoy unlimited simultaneous VPN connections with this service provider. It has a R.O.B.E.R.T Feature that is basically an advanced I.P. level and DNS level blocker. It also has lots of useful web browser extension applications. | $9.00/month | Go To Windscribe VPN | |
| 15 | Private Internet Access VPN | Private Internet Access VPN is a virtual private network platform created by Andrew Lee in 2010 and was later acquired by Kape Technologies in 2019. 10 simultaneous VPN connections are allowed with this VPN provider. It has Private Internet Access MACE which can block malware. It also has internet kill switch, port forwarding & split tunneling. | $9.95/month | Go To Private Internet Access VPN | |
| 16 | mySteganos Online Shield VPN | mySteganos Shield VPN is a virtual private network platform created in Germany by Steganos Software GmbH company. Aside from internet kill switch program, it also has Block Ads Feature and Prevent Tracking Feature. It also has Automatically Erase Cookies Feature as well as Anonymize Browser Type Feature. 5 simultaneous VPN connections are allowed. | $7.99/month | Go To mySteganos Online Shield VPN | |
| 17 | RusVPN | RusVPN is one of the newly created virtual private network platforms that has over 200,000 active users all over the world. It currently has 377 VPN servers in 45 countries and accommodates as much as 5 simultaneous VPN connections in multiple devices. It also supports OpenVPN, IKEV2, PPTP & L2TP/IPSec VPN tunneling protocols. | $9.99/month | Go To RusVPN | |
| 18 | TorGuard VPN | TorGuard VPN is a virtual private network system created in 2012 by Benjamin Van Pelt of TorGuard.net. It has a stealth proxy technology aside from the internet kill switch capability. TorGuard VPN has 3,000 servers in 55 countries worldwide. 8 simultaneous VPN connections are allowed with this virtual private network service provider. | $9.99/month | Go To TorGuard VPN | |
| 19 | Speedify VPN | Speedify VPN is a virtual private network platform launched by Connectify Inc. in 2016. It is known to have a channel bonding technology which is a unique feature in the VPN industry. Aside from that, its internet kill switch also works efficiently. Speedify VPN has a DNS Leak Protection. Only 5 simultaneous VPN connections are allowed. | $9.99/month | Go to Speedify VPN | |
| 20 | ibVPN | ibVPN is a virtual private network system developed by Amplusnet SRL as an invisible browsing system in 2003 and was later launched to the public as a VPN service in 2010. It currently has Stealth VPN, Double VPN, as well as TOR over VPN capabilities. Moreover, it has internet kill switch, SmartDNS, as well as an ad blocker. | $10.95/month | Go To ibVPN | |
| 21 | Ivacy VPN | Ivacy VPN is a virtual private network platform created by PMG Pte. Ltd in 2007. It has a smart purpose selection technology based on the type of online activity. Ivacy VPN also has internet kill switch, split tunneling, as well as multiport feature. You can also get a dedicated I.P. address as an add-on feature. 5 simultaneous VPN connections are allowed. | $9.95/month | Go To Ivacy VPN | |
| 22 | GOOSE VPN | GOOSE VPN is a Netherlands-based virtual private network system created by Joeri van de Watering in 2015. Its unique selling point is its ability to establish unlimited simultaneous VPN connections. As of this moment, GOOSE VPN has 41 server locations within 25 countries. It also has a smart server list, DNS leak protection & internet kill switch. | $12.99/month | Go To GOOSE VPN | |
| 23 | VPNSecure.me | VPNSecure.me is an Australian-based virtual private network platform created by VPNSecure Pty Ltd. In 2010. It currently has 100 server locations in 48 different countries worldwide and allows you to establish 5 simultaneous VPN connections. Aside from split tunneling, it also has an internet kill switch and Stealth VPN. | $9.95/month | Go To VPNSecure.me | |
| 24 | TunnelBear VPN | TunnelBear VPN is a virtual private network system originally created by Ryan Dochuk in 2011 and was later acquired my McAffee in the early part of 2018. It’s popular since there are currently more than 22 million people that are using this VPN provider. It has an internet kill switch and Stealth VPN. 5 simultaneous VPN connections are allowed. | $9.99/month | Go To TunnelBear VPN | |
| 25 | Hide.me VPN | Hide.me VPN is a popular virtual private network platform with over 20 million users worldwide. It was created by a Malaysian company called eVenture Ltd. Establishing 10 simultaneous VPN connections in any of its 1,700 servers worldwide is allowed. It has an internet kill switch, Stealth Guard, and split tunneling. P2P and Torrent are supported. | $12.95/month | Go To Hide.me VPN | |
| 26 | CactusVPN | CactusVPN is a virtual private network system created in 2011 by Sergiu Candja and by 2 of his friends. It currently has 35 server locations in 22 countries worldwide. CactusVPN is capable of running 5 simultaneous VPN connections. It is also known for its Smart DNS feature which can unblock geo-restrictions of 310 video streaming platforms. | $6.99/month | Go To CactusVPN | |
| 27 | Perfect Privacy VPN | Perfect Privacy VPN is a reliable virtual private network system created in 2008 in Latvia. One of its notable features is its capacity to create unlimited simultaneous VPN connections. It has 58 server locations in 26 countries. Perfect Privacy VPN has NeuroRouting Feature, TrackStop Feature, Port Forwarding, Multi-Hop VPN & Internet Kill Switch. | $12.99/month | Go To Perfect Privacy VPN | |
| 28 | IVPN | IVPN is a Gibraltar-based virtual private network platform created by Privatus Limited in 2009. It allows 7 simultaneous VPN connections. It has an AntiTracker system, Multi-hop VPN, port forwarding, as well as an internet kill switch capability. However, it is not compatible with geo-restricted video streaming services. | $6.00/month | Go To IVPN | |
| 29 | Mullvad VPN | Mullvad VPN is a virtual private network system created by Amagicom AB in 2009. It currently has 559 VPN servers in 36 countries. For a very affordable price, you can create 5 simultaneous VPN connections. Mullvad VPN has an internet kill switch, bridge connection, and IPV6 leak protection. It supports OpenVPN & WireGuard VPN protocol. | €5/month | Go To Mullvad VPN | |
| 30 | Browsec VPN | Browsec VPN is a virtual private network platform that has over 8 million users worldwide. It allows you to make 5 simultaneous VPN connections on 43 different server locations all over the world. However, it has no desktop client version and collects user’s information for 9 days. It is also silent about the type of encryption it uses. | $4.99/month | Go To Browsec VPN | |
| 31 | Hotspot Shield VPN | Hotspot Shield VPN is a virtual private network system created by AnchorFree in 2008 which was later acquired by Pango Inc. in 2019. Its user base reached 600 million people in 200 countries because of its free but limited service subscription. You can access 5 simultaneous VPN connections in any of the 3,200 servers for the premium subscription. | €12.99/month | Go to Hotspot Shield VPN | |
| 32 | Astrill VPN | Astrill VPN offers unlimited simultaneous VPN connections that you can use on 114 server locations in 62 countries around the world. It has port forwarding, VPN sharing, and split tunneling feature. On top of that, an internet kill switch as well as Multi-Hop VPN are available. However, this VPN service provider is an expensive option. | $20.00/month | Go To Astrill VPN | |
| 33 | AirVPN | AirVPN is virtual private network system that has been created in Italy in 2010. It currently has 243 VPN servers in 22 countries worldwide. AirVPN implements zero-logging policy & is fully compliant with GDPR-EU. It also uses 356-bit AES encryption and HMAC SHA-384 for data authentication. You can make 5 simultaneous VPN connections on AirVPN. | €7.00/month | Go To AirVPN | |
| 34 | Encrypt.me VPN | Encrypt.me VPN is a virtual private network service provider that has been created in 2011 in the United States of America. It currently has 79 server locations strategically placed in more than 40 countries all over the world. With Encrypt.me VPN you can create unlimited simultaneous VPN connections. It supports OpenVPN & IKEV2 tunneling protocols. | $9.99/month | Go To Encrypt.me VPN | |
| 35 | Avira Phantom VPN | Avira Phantom VPN is a virtual private network platform designed by Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG. It currently has 46 server locations in 33 different countries. Avira Phantom VPN also has Internet Kill Switch as well as Adware & Malware Blocker. It currently has more than 1 million users. Unlimited simultaneous VPN connections can be made. | $10.00/month | Go To Avira Phantom VPN | |
| 36 | BolehVPN | BolehVPN is a Malaysian-based virtual private network provider that has 35 VPN server locations across 12 countries worldwide. It uses 256-bit AES encryption & SHA-2 hashing algorithm. BolehVPN also supports perfect forward secrecy & zero-logging policy. It also has Internet Kill Switch capability as well as server obfuscation technology. 3 simultaneous VPN connections can be made. | $9.99/month | Go To BolehVPN | |
| 37 | Shellfire VPN | Shellfire VPN is a German-based virtual private network provider that currently has 250,000 users around the world. It supports OpenVPN, PPTP, IPsec, UDP, and TCP. Shellfire VPN also has servers in 37 countries in 6 different continents worldwide. You can only make 1 VPN connection at a single time. It uses both 128-bit AES & 256-bit AES. | $11.95/month | Go To Shellfire VPN | |
| 38 | Hola VPN | Hola VPN is a virtual private network service provider that has been developed in Israel in 2008. It implements peer-to-peer caching and peer-to-peer sharing of internet connection. Hola VPN currently has 219 million service subscribers. It has no data encryption & no VPN tunneling protocol. 10 simultaneous VPN connections can be made. | $2.29/month | Go To Hola VPN |
Having said all of that, I actually compiled a list of the top VPN services in the information security industry. I have reviewed more than 30 virtual private network systems that you can use to protect your data privacy. This is the main reason why I wrote this article in the first place. I’m giving you the best VPN options available to the public as of this moment.
You can trust the rankings I created because I actually used at least 7 key performance indicators to arrive at the individual scores for each of the best VPN providers. These Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) include but not limited to the affordability of the subscription plans, ease of use, security & privacy, compatibility with video streaming services, speed & server locations, online support, as well as the additional features of each of the top VPN service providers. At the end of this article, we will discuss each of the key performance indicators extensively.
I’m pretty sure that you are excited to know the list of the best VPN services. So, without further ado, I bring to you the most secure VPN options you can use.
Best VPN Service Provider #1: NordVPN
NordVPN
$11.95/month
Pros
- Easy to use and available on array of platforms
- 5536 servers across 59 countries
- Decent download & upload speeds
- Uses OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, and NordLynx protocols
- Implements a no-logs policy
- Able to stream Netflix and other services with no issues
- Offers great tutorials and live chat support
- Offers kill switch, double VPN, P2P, Obfuscated and Onion Over VPN servers
- CyberSec - Blocks malicious websites and ads
Cons
- Doesn't accept PayPal
- No split-tunneling feature (Only for Android)
NordVPN is one of the best VPN service providers that have been trusted by a lot of people in protecting their internet privacy and information confidentiality. As a matter of fact, there are currently more than 12 million people that are using NordVPN as their preferred virtual private network system. This top VPN service provider was actually conceptualized an initially released to the public in 2012 and have experienced significant growth over the years. Based on research, you can have a maximum of 6 simultaneous connections at once to this virtual private network platform.
However, you should be aware that you can connect a maximum of 4 devices to the same VPN server using each of the available VPN tunneling protocols. As of this moment, IKEV2, OpenVPN – TCP, OpenVPN – UDP and NordLynx VPN tunneling protocols are available in NordVPN.
Just in case you are not familiar with NordLynx, I would just like you to know that it is a proprietary VPN tunneling system developed by NordVPN based on the WireGuard VPN tunneling protocol. This means that NordLynx uses the ChaCha20 data encryption system. Aside from that, NordVPN made sure that it can’t be easily hacked due to its Double NAT Firewall system that protects the users’ privacy.
To get the best value of this virtual private network platform, I certainly advise you to get the annual subscription plan for $83.88 a year. When you amortize the annual payment to monthly use, it will actually only cost you $6.99 per month. This will give you huge savings over getting the regular monthly subscription plan which currently costs $11.59.
NordVPN is also one of the best VPN service providers that have a vast array of VPN servers at its disposal. As a matter of fact, there are now approximately 5,845 virtual private network servers located in various geographical regions in 59 different countries worldwide. Based on my research, NordVPN currently implements the zero-logging policy to protect the information of its users. This means that it does not record your original I.P. address and the specific I.P. addresses of the VPN servers you have previously connected to. It does not also record the websites you visit. Even the session information, as well as the connection time stamps is not recorded.
This best VPN service provider security measures as it has a high level of encryption. As a matter of fact, it currently uses the 256-bit AES encryption in the GCM mode for both the Open VPN and the IKEV2 VPN tunneling protocols. The OpenVPN protocol uses the 2048-bit DH key as a means of data authentication. On the other hand the IKEV2 uses the SHA2-384 data authentication system.
One of the best things about this best VPN service provider is that it has an Internet Kill Switch which automatically blocks all forms of unencrypted internet access whenever the VPN connection you previously established suddenly drops or interrupted. NordVPN is also known for having advanced features such as the Double VPN technology which allows users to connect to 2 different VPN servers at once. This ultimately doubles the encryption for heightened data security. Connecting to 2 different VPN servers at once also makes it impossible for anyone even for supercomputers to track your true location.
I can definitely say without a doubt that NordVPN is one of the top VPN service providers in the entire world since it has obfuscated servers to bypass internet censorship and all forms of geo-restrictions. This basically means that NordVPN has a stealth VPN technology that allows you to bypass the VPN blockers and DPI firewalls set by various video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Sky Go, and BBC.
This best VPN service provider is also equipped with Tor Over VPN Capability. This basically means that this virtual private network platform is compatible with the Tor browser. You can connect to a VPN system first before entering one of the servers of the onion router. This increases the strength of the privacy and data security measures being implemented by NordVPN. This virtual private network is also equipped with CyberSec which basically blocks malicious ads, malware and malicious websites.
Read the full NordVPN Review to learn more about this virtual private network service provider.
Best VPN Service Provider #2: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN
$12.95/monthPros
- Easy to use across an array of devices
- 3000+ servers, 160 server locations in 94 countries
- OpenVPN UDP and TCP, L2TP/IPsec, PPTP protocols
- No logs policy & 256 AES encryption
- Runs all their servers on RAM, nothing is stored on hard drives
- Streams Netflix, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Kodi, Hulu,...
- Has a dedicated MediaStreamer service
- 24/7 support with live chat/e-mails/support tickets
- Has kill switch, split tunneling, zero-knowledge DNS, DNS & WebRTC leak protection
Cons
- No dedicated P2P or double VPN servers
- No ad/malware blocker feature
ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN service providers that you shouldn’t miss if you really want to preserve your internet privacy and bypass various geo-restrictions and internet censorship protocols. You can trust Express VPN for your anonymous web browsing since it has a strong track record of preserving internet freedom and internet privacy since 2009. AS a matter of fact, this particular virtual private network has a lot of things to offer.
First and foremost, this best VPN service provider allows you to connect to as much as 5 different devices at once. This means that you can protect the privacy and security of your mobile phone, laptop, desktop computer, tablet as well as your router simultaneously since it allows a maximum of 5 connections. Second, this virtual private network platform has approximately 3,000 VPN servers strategically placed in 94 countries worldwide.
As of this moment, there are currently 160 different server locations present in those countries. The high number of available virtual private network servers proves that ExpressVPN is one of the most competent and most widely used VPN service providers in the entire world. Based on research, 97% of the VPN servers of ExpressVPN are actually bare-metal servers. Only 3% are virtual servers.
This top VPN service provider currently uses the OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSEC, PPTP, and IKEV2 VPN tunneling protocols. For best results, it is recommended that you use the automatic settings with regards to the VPN tunneling protocol that will be used. All of the VPN tunneling protocols being used by ExpressVPN runs on the 256-bit AES which is deemed to be the gold standard for data encryption. Up to this point, no one has been able to successfully break the encryption without proper authority.
Aside from that, ExpressVPN always ensures that data security is kept intact within its data centers. This is possible since all of the 3,000+ VPN servers run on RAM instead of writing data on the hard disk drives. In this manner, every data accessed in the past will be permanently deleted each time the server reboots. This approach is basically called the TrustedServer protocol.
Another thing that I like about this best VPN service provider is its Network Lock feature. It is basically the counterpart of the Internet Kill Switch program that is usually found in a majority of the virtual private network systems. This technology efficiently blocks all forms of internet access outside the VPN server connection. Just in case your virtual private network connection is disrupted, you will lose the internet connection altogether. This effectively prevents any form of I.P. address leakage to the internet service provider which you are connected to. With the help of the Internet Kill Switch feature, your true location will never be exposed.
ExpressVPN is also equipped with the split tunneling feature. This technology actually allow users to choose which application programs and websites pass through the VPN connection and which application programs and websites should bypass the VPN connection. This is a very useful feature so that bandwidth will not be overloaded.
This best VPN service provider also has its own MediaStreamer capability that allows you to bypass geo-restrictions that have been placed by various video streaming services. Geo-spoofing technology is used without encryption in the MediaStreamer. This basically enhances your video streaming experience as the connection is faster. Based on my experience, I was able to bypass geo-restrictions in Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO, and Kodi using this particular virtual private network platform.
ExpressVPN also has a DNS leak protection system as well as WebRTC leak protection system on top of the usual I.P. leak protection system. As a matter of fact, this best VPN service provider uses its own DNS servers and operates on a zero-knowledge DNS capability.
You have nothing to worry about the subscription price since the annual subscription plan is very affordable. In fact, you can get the services of ExpressVPN for 1 whole year by paying $99.95. If you conduct a cost-benefit analysis, you will see that it only actually costs $8.32 each month by paying the annual subscription fee upfront. Based on the privacy policy page of this top VP service provider, it keeps no records of users. This means that it also strictly implements the zero-logging policy.
The online customer support system of this best VPN service provider is also very good. As a matter of fact, there is a 24/7 live chat customer support system available. You can also send a customer support ticket as well as an e-mail for all of your concerns.
Read the ExpressVPN Review to learn more about this virtual private network platform.
Best VPN Service Provider #3: VeePN
VeePN
$10.99/month
Pros
- Has internet kill switch protection
- Has DNS leak protection & Custom DNS feature
- Has unlimited bandwidth & unlimited server switching
- Has double VPN technology
- Has adware blocker, malware blocker, and online tracker blocker
- Zero-logging policy & public Wi-Fi protection
- Supports OpenVPN, IKEV2, VeePN Smart TCP, and VeePN Smart UDP
- 256-bit AES data encryption
- Access Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Sling TV, YouTube TV, YouTube Red, Chromecast, and HBO Now
Cons
- Has no split tunneling
VeePN is one of the best VPN service providers that I can actually recommend based on the assessments I personally made on all virtual private network systems worldwide. As a matter of fact, the competence of VeePN as a reliable virtual private network platform is justified since there are now approximately 5 million users of this top VPN service provider worldwide. Considering the tight completion in the industry, the number of VeePN subscribers is actually a very good key performance indicator.
One of the most attractive features of VeePN is that it can accommodate a maximum of 10 simultaneous connections to the virtual private network system. For this reason alone, the monthly subscription price amounting to $10.99 is actually a very good deal already. In case you haven’t noticed, most of the VPN service providers in the same price range can only offer as much as 5 VPN connections at once. If you really want to save lots of money while maintaining your internet privacy and availing of anonymous web browsing, I advise you to get the annual subscription instead. Each year, you only need to pay $69.99 for 1 whole year of VPN service subscription.
VeePN also has approximately 2,500 VPN servers placed in 42 countries all over the world. The VPN servers are well-distributed into various geographical regions which makes the virtual private network platform. As a matter of fact, there are 1,168 VPN servers that can be found in Europe while there are 1,153 VPN servers in the entire American Region. The rest of the virtual private network servers are strategically placed in Asia Pacific, Middle East, India, and Africa. This particular best VPN service provider also implements unlimited bandwidth and unlimited server switching. VeePN also claims that all of their virtual private network servers have 99.9% uptime rate. This means that the possibility of experiencing VPN server disconnections is very small.
As of this moment, all the data that passes through the VPN connection is heavily encrypted using the unbreakable 256-bit AES. This form of data encryption is currently the gold standard for protecting your internet privacy and data security. This particular best VPN service provider currently supports OpenVPN, IKEV2, VeePN Smart TCP, and VeePN Smart UDP VPN tunneling protocols. You can easily change the VPN tunneling protocol that will be used by going to the connection settings in the graphic user interface of the virtual private network system. However, I strongly advise you to use the Automatic settings instead for optimal results. On top of that, VeePN complies with the rules and regulations as stated in the GDPR.
With this particular best VPN service provider, I can easily bypass geo-restrictions placed by the popular video streaming services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Chromecast, Sling TV, HBO Now, YouTube TV, and YouTube Red. In fact, when I tried entering Netflix US, I was able to pass through without any problem. As a matter of fact, the video streaming speed is very fast as it only took 4 seconds for the selected show to play.
Just like most of the best VPN service providers, VeePN also has a reliable internet kill switch program. It efficiently and effectively blocks my internet access whenever the VPN server connection is lost. While it seldom happens, the internet kill switch program prevents unencrypted internet access whenever changing VPN servers as well.
VeePN also has a double VPN technology that you can use to strengthen the data encryption and enhance the geo-spoofing capability of this virtual private network platform. Based on the tests I conducted, all of the 9 Double VPN servers are functioning efficiently and effectively. I only recommend you to use the Double VPN servers whenever accessing confidential files. Due to the fact that the encryption is doubled, the internet speed slows down too accordingly.
This best VPN service provider also has mobile application programs available for both Android and iOS. It also has adware blocker, malware blocker as well as the online tracking blocker. This will ensure that there will be no fragments of user data that will be compromised. I also found out that VeePN strictly implements the zero-logging policy which means it does not collect user data and does not record details about the usage of the VPN platform. Aside from that, VeePN has a DNS leak protection system. If this is turned on, the virtual private network platform will use its own DNS servers. No DNS requests will be sent and forwarded to 3rd parties in this particular case.
Read the full VeePN Review to learn more about this virtual private network system.
Best VPN Service Provider #4: VPNArea
VPNArea
$9.90/month
Pros
- Supports OpenVPN, IKEV2, Stunnel, and Stealth VPN
- AES-256-CBC, HMAC SHA-256 authentication & RSA 4096 handshake
- Perfect forward secrecy with RSA & DH-4096 system
- Has Double VPN Technology & Zero-logging policy
- Has Internet Kill Switch
- Supports P2P & Torrent
- Has Ad Blocker & Malware Prevention System
- Has DNS leak protection, IPV6 leak protection & Web RTC leak protection
- Access Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, ITV, SkyGo & DAZN
Cons
- No Free Trial
- No split tunneling feature
VPNArea is one of the best VPN service providers that have an extensive experience in protecting the internet privacy and data security of its users. It is also being used to bypass internet censorship and geo-restrictions placed by various governments and business entities. In case you haven’t noticed, VPNArea has been offering its virtual private network service to the public since 2012. The company has its corporate headquarters at Varna, Bulgaria as of this moment. This is a good sign since Bulgaria is not part of the Five Eyes Alliance nor of the 14 Eyes Alliance of various governments that are working hand in hand to conduct massive surveillance and intelligence gathering activities.
With this best VPN service provider, you can connect a maximum of 6 devices to the virtual private network platform all at once. It is more than enough to protect most of your devices simultaneously through a VPN connection. VPNArea is also one of the most affordable virtual private network systems available in the industry. As a matter of fact, it will only cost you $9.90 per month when you subscribe to this particular VPN provider. If you have enough cash to pay for the upfront fee, I would recommend the annual subscription which will only cost you $59.00 a year. If you choose the yearly subscription plan, the amortized monthly payments will be valued at $4.92. The price is slashed into half whenever you select the annual subscription plan of this top VPN service provider.
While there is no free trial available, you can avail of the 14-day money back guarantee of this virtual private network service provider for the monthly subscription. The refund period can be extended to a maximum of 30 days if you purchased a yearly subscription. Lots of payment options are available including purchasing a VPN subscription package using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. The cryptocurrency payment becomes a convenient payment option if you are afraid that there might be potential breach in information security that could happen.
This best VPN service provider currently supports the Windows, Mac, and Linux computer operating systems. This is a good sign since there are other VPN providers that don’t support Linux as of the moment. The virtual private network platform is also compatible with routers and Smart TVs.
Based on my research, VPNArea has approximately more than 100 server locations that were installed in 65 different countries around the world. All of the VPN servers are strategically placed in various geographical regions. One thing that is very noticeable is that the United States of America holds approximately 10% of all of the available server locations. However, there is no mention about the exact number of VPN servers that are being used by this virtual private network service provider. It is one of the security measures that have been put in place so that the VPN system will not be vulnerable to various cyberattacks. It also currently implements an unlimited bandwidth system.
VPNArea implements a 256-bit AES encryption that uses the Cipher Block Chaining (CBC) method. On top of that, the same encryption is paired with SHA-256 data authentication system that operates in the HMAC protocol. This best VPN service provider also uses 4096-bit RSA handshake encryption. Aside from that, you should also be aware that this virtual private network provider is equipped with perfect forward secrecy mechanism in the RSA and DH-4096 encryption system.
As of this moment, this best VPN service provider supports various VPN tunneling protocols such as the OpenVPN, Stunnel, IKEV2, and Stealth VPN. It also has advanced capabilities such as the Double VPN technology. It allows you to connect to 2 different VPN servers simultaneously to increase the level of encryption and to heighten your I.P. spoofing capability. Aside from that, it also has the internet kill switch capability.
Aside from that, this virtual private network system has a server obfuscation technology through the Stealth VPN tunneling protocol. This enables you to bypass geo-restrictions placed by video streaming services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, SkyGo, Hulu, ITV, and DAZN. This becomes possible since the stealth VPN feature can bypass the DPI firewalls and the VPN blockers of the video streaming services. On top of that, you should also be delighted to hear that VPNArea strictly implements a zero-logging policy.
Read the full VPNArea Review to learn more about this particular virtual private network system.
Best VPN Service Provider #5: Avast SecureLine VPN
Avast SecureLine VPN
$59.88/year
Pros
- Supports OpenVPN, IPsec, and OpenSSL
- Zero-logging policy & 256-bit AES encryption
- Can Access Netflix US and BBC iPlayer
- Has Internet Kill Switch feature
- Supports P2P & Torrent
- Has Avast Secure browser integration
- Has DNS leak protection & IPV6 leak protection
- Subscription prices are affordable
- Supports Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Android smart TV, Mi Box, & Nvidia Shield TV
Cons
- No split tunneling option
Avast SecureLine VPN is one of the best VPN service providers that you should consider using to protect your internet privacy and enjoy anonymous web browsing. You can really be assured of this particular virtual private network system. This is primarily due to the fact that it is one of the main products being offered by Avast that is known for advanced cybersecurity services in the entire world. Avast has been developing various cybersecurity solutions since 1988. This is why I can guarantee you that its virtual private network platform is one of the best in the industry.
This particular best VPN service provider is compatible with Windows and Mac for both desktop computers and laptops. It can also be used in mobile devices that run on Android and iOS. This virtual private network platform also works on Android Smart TV, Nvidia Shield TV, as well as on Mi Box technology. All of the aforementioned devices can be protected with this virtual private network platform.
Currently speaking, Avast SecureLine VPN has a massive network of VPN servers that is strategically placed in 55 different server locations across 34 countries all over the globe. Most of the server locations are found in the United States of America as the country has approximately 16 VPN server locations that the virtual private network is currently operating. You can be assured that there will be no breach of confidential information since this best VPN service provider adheres to the zero-logging policy. On top of that, this virtual private network platform and all of the VPN servers has been equipped with the military-grade 256-bit AES encryption.
If you are on a tight budget and you still want to secure your internet privacy ad bypass geo-restrictions, you can avail of the annual VPN subscription for only $47.88 a year. You just be mindful that you can only protect 1 device with this particular pricing plan. So as a viable alternative, I would recommend you to get the annual subscription plan for only $59.88 that could make 5 simultaneous all at once. You should know that there is a 7-day free trial for all of the subscription plans for this VPN provider.
As of today, this best VPN service provider supports various VPN tunneling protocols which include OpenVPN, OpenSSL, as well as the IPSec. I can easily bypass the geo-restrictions placed by Netflix US since there are dedicated video streaming VPN servers for this particular purpose. I can also bypass the geo-restrictions placed by BBC iPlayer since there are dedicated video streaming servers in the United Kingdom and Germany. This basically means that I can fool the VPN blockers and trick the DPI firewalls of the said video streaming services.
Just like most of the best VPN service providers, Avast SecureLine has an Internet Kill Switch program that automatically blocks me from accessing the internet if the VPN connection is suddenly terminated or disconnected. Based on experience, this possibility is bound to happen whenever changing VPN server locations in the process. Furthermore, the virtual private network platform has dedicated VPN servers for P2P file transfers as well as for torrent file upload and download. These VPN servers that support P2P & torrent can be found in the United States of America, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, as well as in the Czech Republic.
I’m also happy to announce that this best VPN service provider is safe from any I.P. leak as the virtual private network platform is integrated with IPV6 leak protection and DNS leak protection. You are assured that your true location can never be found out by anyone else. Not even the best hackers can recognize and trace your location whenever you are connected in the virtual private network system. On top of that, to make your internet access more encrypted and safer from eavesdropping, Avast SecureLine VPN has its own Avast Secure browser system which you can easily ad effectively use.
Read the full Avast SecureLine VPN Review to learn more about this virtual private network system.
Best VPN Service Provider #6: HideMyAss VPN
HideMyAss VPN
$83.88/year
Pros
- Has 1,000 servers in 298 locations across more than 190 countries
- Has zero-logging policy & public Wi-Fi protection
- 256-bit AES-GCM data encryption
- 4096-bit RSA handshake & SHA256 data authentication
- Supports OpenVPN and IKEV2/IPSec
- Can Access Netflix US & BBC iPlayer
- Has Internet Kill Switch & App Kill Switch
- Has I.P. Shuffle Feature & Supports P2P and Torrent
- Has DNS leak, IPV6 leak & WebRTC leak protections
Cons
- Internet Kill Switch does not work in some instances
- Speed of some servers are slower
- Split tunneling feature is only present on Android
HideMyAss VPN is one of the best VPN service providers that have gained the attention and trust of the public wanting to remain anonymous online in recent years. As a matter of fact, if you try to analyze the user base of this virtual private network, you will be surprised that as of this moment there are already more than 400 million service subscribers of HideMyAss VPN worldwide. This virtual private network platform has been initially launched in 2005 by Jack Cator.
This basically means that this best VPN service provider has already 15 years of extensive experience in delivering the best internet privacy solution in the VPN industry. As of 2016, it became a subsidiary of Avast through corporate acquisition. This only proves that HideMyAss VPN has been considered by the best and the brightest people in the cybersecurity industry as efficient and effective form of a virtual private network system.
In order to maximize the use of this best VPN service provider, I would like you to get the annual subscription plan for only $83.88 each year. I personally prefer the yearly subscription plan versus the monthly subscription plan because of the huge amount of savings you can get. With the annual subscription plan, you are just actually paying an effective price rate of $6.99 per month. This is almost half the price for the monthly subscription plan which costs $11.99 a month.
All of the regular subscription plans of HideMyAss VPN are capable of making 5 simultaneous VPN connections at once. This best VPN service provider also has family VPN subscription plans which are capable of 10 simultaneous connections. On top of that, there is a 7-day free trial for all of the subscription plans. Aside from that, you can also avail of the money-back guarantee for 30 days if you really feel that the performance of this virtual private network doesn’t match your expectations.
As of this moment, this best VPN service provider has approximately more than 1,000 VPN servers that are logistically placed in 190 countries all over the world. As a matter of fact, this virtual private network platform is also present in 280 server locations inside the 190 countries worldwide. The United States of America has the largest share of the VPN servers as it constitutes 20% of the total available VPN servers of this virtual private network system. Based on my research, all of the data centers of HideMyAss VPN can give 10 GBPS to 20 GBPS throughput.
This best VPN service provider uses the zero-logging policy so that there will be no vital information about the VPN user that can be potentially leaked out. In this manner, internet privacy and information security are kept intact. Aside from that, this virtual private network platform uses the 256-bit AES encryption in the GCM mode to ward off hackers from conducting surveillance and eavesdropping activities on your internet connection. Furthermore, you should be aware that this best VPN platform uses the SHA-256 as its data authentication system. It is then partnered with the 4096-bit RSA handshake.
Another thing that is noticeable in the best VPN service provider is that it is compatible with Windows, Mac, as well as the Linux computer operating systems. It does not matter whether you use a desktop computer or a laptop since the virtual private network is compatible in all systems. As a matter of fact, you can even use it on your mobile devices such as smartphones as well as tablets since it is compatible with Android and iOS.
You can also connect your router to this particular virtual private network system. If you want to bypass geo-restrictions placed by video streaming services, then this best VPN service provider is a perfect fit for you since it can be connected to both the Apple TV and Android TV. Moreover, web browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox are available.
As of this moment, this best VPN service provider uses the OpenVPN as well as the IKEV2/IPSec VPN tunneling protocols. HideMyAss VPN also has advanced features such as the internet kill switch as well as the app kill switch. This prevents you from accessing the internet without the protection of a VPN connection. I can also use the I.P. shuffle advanced feature which allows me to use different I.P. addresses that frequently changes whenever connected to a particular VPN server location. The frequency of the I.P. address change is dependent on the settings.
This best VPN service provider also has split tunneling feature but is only currently available on Android devices. There are also VPN servers dedicated to P2P file sharing and torrent activities. On top of that, this virtual private network system is also equipped with WebRTC leak protection system. It also has IPV6 leak protection system as well as the DNS leak protection system.
Read the full HideMyAss Review to learn more about this virtual private network platform.
Best VPN Service Provider #7: IPVanish VPN
IPVanish VPN
$11.99/month - Regular Price
Pros
- Has internet kill switch protection
- Supports split tunneling for Android & Amazon Fire
- P2P connection & Torrent are supported
- Protected Wi-Fi access & NAT Firewall
- 256-bit AES encryption & zero-logging policy
- Has DNS leak & IPv6 leak protections
- Access Netflix US, Amazon Prime & Hulu
- OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP & IKEV2
- Unlimited Bandwidth & 250 GB SygarSync cloud storage
Cons
- Regular subscription prices are higher than some competitors
IPVanish VPN is one of the best VPN service providers that have been constantly giving the public protection and security in the cyberspace. As a matter of fact, this virtual private network system is being used by service subscriber to gain access to anonymous web browsing experience while bypassing all forms of internet censorship by various websites and countries worldwide. As early as 2012, IPVanish was created and rolled out to the public by Mudhook Media Inc. as a virtual private network system. It has humble beginnings since this top VPN service provider only started with 32 virtual private network servers. Within 8 years after its launch, the number of VPN servers has grown to a huge size.
Currently speaking, this best VPN service provider has already more than 1,400 VPN servers worldwide. They are strategically placed in 75 different server locations all over the world. What is noticeable is that the North American region holds more than 50% of the total available virtual private network servers worldwide. As a matter of fact, it currently has 722 servers in this particular region. On the other hand, Europe holds approximately 469 servers. I can definitely say that if you are intending to bypass geo restrictions of video streaming services in North America and Europe, then IPVanish is one of the best VPN service providers you can rely on.
Based on the results of my research, this top VPN service provider lets you use any of its approximately 40,000 I.P. available addresses to be able to spoof your location. All of these I.P. addresses are shared so you really don’t have to worry about the possibility of your original location being traced back or your internet anonymity being compromised. You can switch in any of the server locations as you wish without any limit. Moreover, you will never experience intentional bandwidth throttling. In fact this best VPN service provider has an unlimited bandwidth system.
You will be surprised to learn that this best virtual private network system works very well with Linux on top of Windows and Mac computer operating systems. If you wish to protect your mobile devices, then you shouldn’t worry since this best VPN service provider has mobile applications created for Android and iOS devices. On top of that, I also found out that you can use this virtual private network platform and establish a VPN connection on specific routers such as the Asus-WRT, DD-WRT, Tomato, and Merlin. Furthermore, should you wish to bypass geo-restrictions of video streaming services, you should know that this particular virtual private network system is compatible with Amazon Fire Stick as well as the Amazon Fire TV.
With this best VPN service provider, you can protect a vast array of devices since it ca actually make a maximum of 10 simultaneous connections at once. However, you should know that because it can accommodate 10 VPN connections at once, the price is somewhat higher than competitors. Regardless of whether you sign up for the monthly, yearly, or quarterly subscription plans of IPVanish, the price rate is held constant. The effective price rate is pegged at $11.99 per month. You can however enjoy discounts if it is your first time getting a subscription using this particular virtual private network platform.
This best VPN service provider is proud to announce that is currently utilized the 256-bit AES data encryption technology in order to make your internet connection as secure as possible. In case you haven’t noticed, the 256-bit AES encryption has never been breached by any hacker with superior skills. Not even supercomputers can break this form of encryption through brute force method. This is the reason why I’m confident that my internet anonymity and all of my online activities are safe from the prying eyes of hackers and government agencies that regularly conduct massive surveillance to the public.
As of this moment, this best VPN service provider supports OpenVPN, IKEV2, as well as the L2TP/IPSec VPN tunneling protocols. According to the VPN provider, it also supports PPTP but it is quite limited since it can only be run on the Windows computer operating system. For spoofing your location without encrypting the internet connection, you can also use the SOCKS5 web proxy capability. On top of that, data privacy is ensured since this best VPN service provider strictly implements and adheres to the no-logging policy. This means that no information regarding your VPN connection will be recorded and stored in the servers and data center of IPVanish VPN.
Based on my experience, this top VPN service provider is capable of bypassing geo-restrictions placed by Hulu, Netflix US, and Amazon Prime Video. This is possible since IPVanish VPN can pass through DPI firewalls and VPN blockers of the video streaming services without being detected. Aside from that, this virtual private network system has additional capabilities such as the internet kill switch program. With this feature, no internet traffic can pass through without a working VPN connection.
There is also a split tunneling feature so that you can select which application programs that uses internet will pass through the VPN connection and which ones will bypass the VPN system. It also has a NAT firewall capability to ward off any cyberattack on your internet connection. This best VPN service provider also currently supports P2P & Torrent. Another thing that you should be aware of is that IPVanish VPN offers 250 GB worth of free cloud storage on SugarSync when you subscribe to one of its subscription plans. It also comes with a DNS leak protection system on top of the IPV6 leak protection system.
Read the full IPVanish Review to learn more about this virtual private network platform.
Best VPN Service Provider #8: PersonalVPN
PersonalVPN
$5.99/month
Pros
- Supports OpenVPN, IKEV1, IKEV2, L2TP/IPSec & PPTP
- 256-bit AES with an unshared 4096-bit RSA security certificate
- zero-logging policy & NAT firewall system
- Can access Netflix US, Hulu & Sky
- Has stealth VPN protocol bypassing VPN blockers
- Has DNS leak protection & IPV6 leak protection
- Has Internet Kill Switch & perfect forward secrecy mechanism
- Compatible with routers, gaming consoles & Smart TVs
- Public Wi-Fi protection
Cons
- Has no split tunneling
PersonalVPN is one of the best VPN service providers that have satisfied the needs of the public to ensure continuance of anonymous web browsing experience and internet privacy. In fact, the company behind this virtual private network platform started developing and launched PersonalVPN in 2005. This means that this virtual private network system has already more than 15 years of experience in delivering the best VPN services in almost any territory. PersonalVPN is registered under Witopia Inc. with its corporate headquarters in Virginia in the United States of America.
As of this moment, there are actually more than 1,000 VPN servers that have been deployed by this best VPN service provider. These servers have been strategically placed in 42 countries worldwide. Some countries have multiple server locations since there are 62 different server locations worldwide. It is the United States of America that holds the largest share of VPN server locations. Currently speaking, USA has 17 server locations to boast of. This particular top VPN service provider can protect you from the intentional bandwidth throttling of internet service providers especially you are accessing video streaming services. On top of that, you can also enjoy the unlimited server switching whenever using the virtual private network platform. You should also be fully aware that this best VPN service provider is also fully compliant with the zero-logging policy. No personal information as well as no data about your online activities will be recorded and stored in the servers and data centers of PersonalVPN.
In order to get the best deal out of this top VPN service provider, you need to select the annual subscription of the PersonalVPN Premier edition. This will unlock all of the available features of this particular virtual private network platform. You will be able to make 8 simultaneous VPN connections with this particular subscription plan. You can protect not only your computers and mobile devices, but also will allow you to protect other devices such as routers, smart TVs, ad even gaming consoles through a VPN connection. The PersonalVPN Premium annual subscription plan will cost you $99.99 each year.
You will also gain access to the Stealth VPN mode which is actually using server obfuscation technology. What is does is that it makes your internet traffic appear as normal. This basically means that your VPN is not detected by DPI firewalls and VPN blockers of various video streaming services. As a matter of fact, you can easily watch geo-restricted content of Netflix US, Sky, and even Hulu. This best VPN service provider supports various VPN tunneling protocols including the famous OpenVPN, PPTP, IKEV1, IKEV2, as well as the L2TP/IPSec.
This top VPN service provider uses 256-bit AES encryption for both the OpenVPN and IKEV2. On top of that, it also uses the 4096-bit RSA security certificate whenever using the IKEV2 VPN tunneling protocol. It also embraces the concept of perfect forward secrecy functionality in the process. This best VPN service provider also has an internet kill switch program. Moreover, I was also able to find out that it has the IPV6 leak protection capability on top of the DNS leak protection system. Because of this, the will be no DNS forwarding that will happen as it uses its own DNS system.
Read the full PersonalVPN Review to learn more about this particular virtual private network system.
Best VPN Service Provider #9: PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN
$7.67/month
Pros
- Has internet kill switch protection & Application guard
- P2P connection & Torrent are supported
- Has DNS leak & IPv6 leak protections
- Has stealth VPN bypassing VPN blockers and DPI firewall
- Access Netflix US, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, and Hulu
- Zero-logging policy & public Wi-Fi protection
- OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, IKEV2, IPSec, SOCKS5 and HTTP Proxy
- AES-256-GCM or AES-256-CBC data encryption with 2048-bit DH key
- Unlimited bandwidth and unlimited server switches
Cons
- Has no split tunneling
PrivateVPN is one of the best VPN service providers that you shouldn’t miss. In fact, this VPN platform exists in the market since 2009. This means that PrivateVPN has approximately more than 16 years of experience in providing the public with high quality virtual private network services. The VPN system has been designed by Privat Kommunikation Sverige AB that has corporate headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Based on my research, this particular virtual private network system allows you to connect a maximum of 6 devices simultaneously on the VPN platform.
This top VPN service provider has approximately 150 server locations spread throughout 60 countries worldwide. PrivateVPN supports lot of VPN tunneling protocols including OpenVPN, L2TP, as well as the PPTP. There are also other devices wherein you can use the IPSec and the IKEV2 VPN tunneling protocols effectively. If you just want to spoof your location without encrypting it, you can also use the HTTP Proxy and the SOCKS5 capability.
In order to maximize the use of this best VPN service provider, I strongly recommend you to get the annual subscription plan. It will only cost you $49.68 each year. This will be the cheapest VPN subscription plan of PrivateVPN since such annual payment will yield you an amortization of only $4.14 per month. I also advise you to sign up for a 7-day free trial period before purchasing a subscription plan. In this manner, you will be able to test the system without paying for it in the first place. There is also a 30-day money back guarantee provided that your internet traffic is less than 100 GB.
You can also manually select the type of data encryption that will be used in your VPN connection. However, I advise you to use either the AES-256-GCM or the AES-256-CBC encryption. In connection with this, the encryption is partnered with a 2048-bit DH key. This best VPN service provider is also implementing the no-logging policy. On top of that, there is also a port forwarding feature that you can efficiently use.
I can easily bypass the geo-restrictions by video streaming platforms such as Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO, Disney Plus, as well as ESPN. This has been possible due to the stealth VPN protocol which uses the server obfuscation capability. DPI firewalls as well as VPN blockers can be bypassed with ease. I can assure you that you will really enjoy watching your favorite movies and TV shows in the video streaming service platforms without any issue at all.
PrivateVPN is also known for having an internet kill switch and app guard that blocks unencrypted internet access. P2P file transfers as well as torrent activities are supported by this particular virtual private network system. Moreover, PrivateVPN is also equipped with DNS leak protection system as well as IPV6 leak protection system.
Read the full PrivateVPN Review to learn more about this virtual private network platform.
Best VPN Service Provider #10: PureVPN
PureVPN
$10.95/month
Pros
- Has internet kill switch protection
- Supports P2P function & split tunneling
- Has DNS & WebRTC & IPv6 leak protections
- Has port forwarding & DDos protection
- Zero-logging policy & unlimited bandwidth
- Access Netflix, Disney Plus, ESPN, Hulu, etc.
- Supports OpenVPN, PPTP, SSTP, L2TP, IKEv2
- Has advanced Stealth VPN protocol
- 2,134 servers in 140 countries
PureVPN is one of the best VPN service providers that have extensive experience in offering people with the best virtual private networks for internet privacy and anonymous web browsing. As a matter of fact, this particular virtual private network platform has been initially developed in the year 2006 by GZ systems. 3 years later, the VPN system has been perfected and rolled out to the public in 2009. After that, PureVPN never stopped in improving its own virtual private network until it became one of the best VPN systems in the industry.
One of the best things that I’ve discovered in this particular best VPN service provider is that it actually allows me to make 10 simultaneous VPN connections while using 10 different devices all at the same time. It will really be convenient for you to use this particular top VPN service provider since it is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux computer operating systems for laptops and desktop computers. On top of that, the mobile application programs for both Android and iOS have also been perfected by PureVPN throughout the years. I also found out that you can also establish a virtual private network connection on your routers, smart TVs, as well as gaming consoles. Furthermore, I was also able to effectively use the web browser extensions of PureVPN on Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
Since the monthly subscription plan amounting to $10.95 per month is somewhat expensive, I would really recommend the annual subscription plan instead. It will yield me huge amount of savings since the annual subscription plan will only cost me $48.96 each single year. If you calculate the monthly amortization on the annual subscription, you will know that it will only cost you $4.08 per month. You can also avail of the trial period for 7 days by paying $0.99. After that, you have 31 days from the date of subscription to avail of the money-back guarantee.
If you want to avail of the port forwarding feature, you have to pay an additional $0.99 per month on your existing VPN subscription. Aside from that, should you want a dedicated I.P. address for your own use and for no one else, then you need to pay additional $3.99 per month on top of the cost of your VPN subscription. If you want to have a DDoS protection, then you need to pay additional $4.99 per month on top of your current VPN service subscription. You have the option to pay using cryptocurrencies so that there will be no leak in your data privacy. The payments made using major cryptocurrencies will be totally untraceable.
This best VPN service provider has approximately 2,134 virtual private network servers strategically located and placed on more than 140 countries worldwide. From the number of server locations alone, I can guarantee and assure you that the geographical distribution of the VPN servers is greatly balanced. I’ve also learned that you can randomly use any of the 300,000 shared I.P. addresses connected to this particular virtual private network system in order to spoof your location. It will really be statistically impossible for anyone to identify you as the user of a particular I.P. address since there are too many I.P. addresses that too many VPN service subscribers are using.
Another good thing about this top VPN service provider is that it actually allows unlimited server switching. This means that you can play around as you wish with you virtual location. With this virtual private network platform, you can easily fight off any form of ISP bandwidth throttling too. This is primarily because a VPN connection basically gives you access to unlimited bandwidth. I also learned that the internet connection that uses this particular virtual private network is protected by the 256-bit AES encryption. It is one of the strongest data encryption systems there is. Many have attempted to breach this type of data security but everyone has failed to do so.
This best VPN service provider is also easy to use since you can select what type of activity you want to do while connected to the virtual private network platform. You can select the stream mode so that your VPN connection is optimized for viewing geo-restricted content on various video streaming services. Based on my own experience, I can also access geo-restricted content of video streaming services such as Netflix US, Hulu, NBC Sports, ESPN, Fox Sports, Sky Sports, as well as Disney Plus.
You can also select the security & privacy mode so that you can access confidential files easily. On top of that, you can select the file-sharing mode for P2P & Torrent activities. You can also choose the internet freedom mode which allows you to bypass most if not all of the internet censorship systems that have been placed by various websites, internet services, and countries.
PureVPN as one of the top VPN service providers in the industry strictly adheres to the principles set forth by the zero-logging policy of most of the virtual private network systems. I have also learned that this best VPN service provider supports the OpenVPN, IKEV2, PPTP, L2TP, as well as the SSTP VPN tunneling protocols. I can also take advantage of the internet kill switch program especially whenever I change server locations. This means that there will be no internet traffic that will push through if it is unsecured and without the support of an established VPN connection. In this way, there will be no leak in your original I.P. address. There will also be no leak on any of your internet activities including your web browsing history.
The split tunneling feature of this best VPN service provider also comes in very handy. It will allow me to select which application programs that uses internet will be directed through the VPN connection and which ones will be operating without a VPN connection. As previously mentioned, PureVPN also has DDoS protection, port forwarding feature, and the dedicated I.P. address add-on feature.
Read the full PureVPN Review to learn more about this particular virtual private network platform.
Now that you know the benefits of getting the best VPN services and you already have adequate knowledge to 30 of the best VPN systems, it is now time for you to learn more about the various considerations in choosing the best virtual private network system.
1. Affordability of the Subscription Plans of the Best VPN Service Provider
Based on research and observation, people wanted to get the most benefit for a product or service at the least cost. Based on data analysis, getting the best VPN service is not exempted from this general rule. Everybody wants to gain access to the best virtual private network system at the least cost. This is the reason why the affordability of the subscription plans of a particular best VPN service is very important and is included as one of the key performance indicators for evaluating virtual private networks.
People usually compare the subscription prices of each of the companies offering VPN software systems. Because of this, people can immediately assess the average subscription price for a good VPN service provider. They use it as a baseline to determine whether the top VPN service provider is relatively affordable or not. Aside from the subscription price itself, there are other considerations such as the availability of the free trial, number of simultaneous connections, payment options, money-back guarantee program, as well as the frequency of the subscription payments. These other considerations also help in evaluating the affordability of the subscription plans of the best VPN service providers in the information security industry.
Free Trial of the Best VPN Service Provider
I strongly advise you to sign up for a free trial first before actually choosing the best VPN service provider. No matter how good the available VPN reviews in the internet are, it is still best to have a first-hand experience of the virtual private network platform you are considering to get without paying for anything. In this manner, you will be able to assess whether the said VPN system is a perfect fit for you or not.
You will be able to explore the various features the virtual private network has to offer. On top of that, you will be able to prove whether the claims regarding the maximum number of simultaneous connections is true. Moreover, spending some time to judiciously and thoroughly test the VPN system allows you to determine whether the virtual private network platform is easy to use or not. The longer the free trial is, the better it will be for you.
Number of Simultaneous Connections of the Top VPN Service Provider
It is important to know the maximum number of simultaneous connections to the best VPN service provider that you can use. There is no point in getting a VPN service subscription if you can only protect 1 or 2 of your devices. Most of the top VPN services out there can actually give you access to at least 5 maximum simultaneous connections. It is a logical number since a person needs to connect at least 1 laptop, 1 desktop computer, 1 tablet, 1 mobile phone, and a Smart TV to the virtual private network.
There are also other companies engaged in offering various VPN services that can cater around 10 to 15 simultaneous VPN connections at once. You need to take a closer look at the price structure of the subscription plans of these best VPN service providers that offer higher number of maximum simultaneous connections.
As I mentioned before, affordability is very subjective. This means that the higher the number of maximum simultaneous VPN connections of a particular virtual private network provider, the cheaper and the more cost-efficient it is. In some cases, the subscription price can be divided by the total number of possible simultaneous connections which ultimately lowers down the cost. Of course I believe that the maximum number of simultaneous connections is only one of the many factors that should be considered.
Payment Options of the Best VPN Service Provider
I encourage you to get the best VPN service provider that has multiple payment options aside from debit cards, credit cards, and bank transfers. The purpose of getting a virtual private network is to hide your real identity and become truly anonymous. You can’t actually achieve that if you use your own debit card or credit card that can be traced back to you. Your identity can be potentially unmasked because your debit card or credit card contains personal information such as your name. On top of that, the bank issuing the credit card has details regarding your birth date, address, and other vital details relevant to the financial transaction. I’m sure that you don’t want for any of your personal information to be revealed.
PayPal is a safer way to pay for a VPN subscription but just like any debit card or credit card, it also contains personal information that can be reversed engineered in order to track you down. If it is possible, get the services of a virtual private network platform that allows major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum to pay for the VPN service subscription. In this manner, you will really stay anonymous as this form of payment can’t be traced back to a specific person or business entity. There are also best VPN service providers that allow hard cold cash as a means of paying for the VPN subscription. This is advantageous for people who want to make their identity hidden but are not knowledgeable enough to make a cryptocurrency transaction.
Money-Back Guarantee Program of the Top VPN Service Provider
Just in case free trial is not available, you should look for any sign of the existence of a money-back guarantee program that is being offered by the best VPN service provider. In this manner, you can try out a particular virtual private network platform risk-free. You won’t lose anything just in case you are not satisfied with the performance of the VPN system. It is technically a counterpart of the free trial. The only difference is that you need to pay for the service subscription upfront with a refund offer for a limited amount of time.
Frequency of the Subscription Payments For The Best VPN Service Provider
It is really important to pay attention to the availability of multiple payment options at various points in time for paying the subscription plans of the best VPN service provider. This means that you need to determine if the top VPN service provider has a monthly subscription plan, quarterly subscription plan, semi-annual subscription plan, or even a yearly subscription plan. Based on my research, the subscription plans of the virtual private network system tend to be cheaper if you are paying for them in advance. This means that it is always cheaper to get a yearly subscription plan rather than pay for a monthly VPN service.
However, even if that is the case, you still need to consider the annual VPN subscription plan very carefully since you will need to pay more cash in advance that can’t be refunded after the money-back guarantee expires. This means that even if you find a better VPN platform than the one that you already paid for, it is too late to switch to another virtual private network platform. Another thing that you should consider is the availability of the funds to pay the particular VPN subscription. Not all people can afford the yearly subscription plan since most people live from one paycheck to another.
If money is not an issue at all, then look for the best VPN service providers that offer a 2-year subscription plan or a 3-year subscription plan. Based on the analysis I’ve conducted, these types of subscription plans for the best virtual private network systems tend to be the most affordable VPN subscriptions in the long-run.
2. Ease of Use of the Best VPN Service Providers
I strongly advice that you get the best VPN service provider that is actually easy to use. There is no point in getting a virtual private network system that is too complicated to utilize. No matter how cool the additional features of the best VPN platform are, then it will not serve the purpose of being an efficient and effective virtual private network if it is indeed hard to use.
Easy Account Registration for The Best VPN Service Provider
One aspect of user friendliness of a top VPN service provider is the ease of registering for an account. You need to make sure that what is just needed to sign up for an account is only your e-mail address and password. You really have to be mindful about this since some of the virtual private network platforms immediately ask for credit card details just to register for an account. There are also some instances wherein a virtual private network provider asks for private details such as phone number, full name, and even an address just to be able to successfully create an account.
It is also a good sign if you see shortcut buttons that allows integration of a Facebook account, Twitter account, or a Google account when signing up for a VPN service. This means that if you are already logged into one of these 3 accounts, then you can just click the shortcut button and your VPN service account will be automatically created. You don’t have to manual type your e-mail address and password.
Easy Menu Navigation of the Best VPN Service Provider
It is really important that the graphic user interface of the desktop client version of the best VPN service provider is easy to navigate and operate. The labels in the menu should be easy to understand. The overall display size of the graphic user interface should be large enough to see it clearly. Full size display must also be enabled whenever it is needed.
Easy Downloading of the Desktop Client Version of the Best VPN Service Provider
The desktop client version installer file of the best VPN service provider must be accessible and must be easily downloaded from the website of the company offering various virtual private network services. Based on my own experience, there are some VPN service providers wherein I had a hard time looking for the desktop client version installer file. There are certain times when it is deemed inaccessible if you are not yet logged into your VPN account. This should not be the case. Even if you are not logged into your account, the installer file should be easy to locate and should be easily be downloaded with a touch of a button. On top of that, the installation process should also be easy to do.
Compatibility of the Best VPN Service Provider To Various Operating Systems
It is important to look closely at the compatibility of the best VPN service provider to various computer operating systems such as Windows, Mac, and Linux OS. In some cases, only Windows and Mac OS are supported. This means that virtual private network platforms that are compatible with all of the 3 computer operating systems have an unfair advantage over others.
It is also important to know if mobile application systems have been developed for the best VPN service provider. Usually, it takes years before a certain virtual private network system launches its mobile application programs for both Android and iOS. There are also some cases wherein mobile application programs for BlackBerry devices have also been created by the VPN service provider.
Compatibility of the Best VPN Service Provider To Routers
You should analyze whether you can set-up a VPN connection on your router. This is very important since most of the virtual private network platforms have limitations with regards to maximum simultaneous VPN connections. In this regard, having a router that is compatible with a virtual private network can solve this particular problem. You can double the maximum simultaneous VPN connections that can be made with the use of a compatible router. This is made possible because the virtual private network recognizes all of the connected devices on the router as a single connection.
Compatibility of the Best VPN Service Provider To Smart TVs
I also strongly advise you assess whether or not the top VPN service provider is compatible with Smart TVs. This is a very important process to make since most people would really love to watch their favorite movies and TV shows on various video streaming services with the use of a Smart TV. In case you haven’t yet noticed, there are some geo-restrictions with regards to the content of various video streaming services depending on your location. This is the reason why a VPN connection comes in handy. With the use of a virtual private network system, you can easily eliminate and bypass the geo-restrictions that have been implemented by Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO GO, and other video streaming services.
Compatibility of the Best VPN Service Provider To Gaming Consoles
I also encourage you to see if the best VPN service provider is compatible with gaming consoles. If you are a hard core gamer, you will easily understand the importance of a VPN connection. First, it actually improves your gaming experience significantly. This is because you can easily defeat bandwidth throttling that is usually being implemented by most online games. You really don’t want to have a very slow internet connection while playing an online game as it has a significant effect on the results of your game.
A virtual private network connection is helpful in reducing ping times and minimizes lags in the process whenever you are playing online games. I know that you will agree with me when I tell you that the farther you location is from the available servers of the online games, the higher the latency of the internet connection you will experience. The distance will ultimately increase your ping time and the lag that you will experience.
With a stable VPN connection, you can actually access and play geo-restricted games from any geographical region. You can’t deny the fact that some governments ban specific online games to their countries because of some laws that are in place. There are also other online games out there wherein they don’t support certain geographical regions for some undisclosed reasons.
Aside from that, you can also protect your identity and privacy while playing online games while connected to the virtual private network. This is very important since you can never be too sure that no one gets angry with you during the game session. Online bashing and harassment has become rampant in recent years.
Studies have shown that most of these harassments are connected to previous gaming sessions. Some players launched vendettas to other people especially if they are always on the losing side. If privacy and information security is not managed properly, a simple stalking procedure can quickly escalate to online bashing and harassment. In some cases, the information derived by disgruntled online gaming players from an unsecured connection to a game server can lead to more serious crimes. This is possible since your exact location on the map can actually be exposed if you don’t use a VPN connection while playing online games. These are just some of the compelling reasons why you should look at the compatibility of the VPN service provider to various gaming consoles.
3. Speed & Server Locations of the Best VPN Service Provider
It is important to take into consideration the speed of the internet connection with and without a virtual private network connection. Aside from that, the number of available server locations as well as the number of all the available servers would actually matter. They have a direct effect in the speed of the internet connection whenever connected to the virtual private network platform. All of these will be discussed in great detail below.
Speed Tests of the top VPN Service Providers
It is also important to consider the download speeds and the upload speeds whenever connected to best VPN service provider. You need to test at least 8 different server locations to know more about the actual results of the speed tests. Based on my experience it is best to use Ookla to measure the internet speed whenever connected to the VPN. In this regard, you basically need to test the original speed of the local internet connection without connecting to the VPN first so that we have a baseline measurement.
Then whenever available, you also need to connect to a server location that is closest to your current location. The rest of the other 6 server locations should be scattered throughout various geographical regions and continent like in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. In this way, the assessment will be fair enough and unbiased.
After getting and recording the entire set of speed test results, it is important to compute for the changes in latency of the internet connection whenever connected to various server locations of the best virtual private network system. All of the data needed to conduct such analysis is available when you use Ookla during the speed test. As a matter of fact, the information regarding upload and download speeds as well as the latency will be revealed during the speed test.
All you have to do is to compare the baseline data which is the speed & latency without VPN connection to the dependent variable which is the speed & latency when connected to a particular server location. Afterwards, you need to create an average of the performance of the best VPN service provider in terms of latency and speed of the internet connection. You can do this by adding up all the results of the speed tests conducted across various server locations and dividing it to 8 parts.
As a general rule, the download speed and the upload speed of an internet connection is faster when not connected to the virtual private network system. However, such connection tends to be unsecured and is susceptible to various forms of hacking and cyberattacks. So, you really need to use the best VPN service provider to protect not only your data privacy but also to strengthen information security and anonymity as well. What we can actually do is to find the best VPN service provider that has the slowest percentage in terms of the change of latency and internet speed. Connecting to a top VPN provider is vital even if the internet connection may slow down.
Number & Geographical Distribution of the Servers of the Best VPN Service Providers
As previously mentioned, the number and the geographical distributions of the servers of the best VPN service providers have a direct effect in the internet speed performance of a virtual private network system. This is the reason why you look closely and examine the number of server locations as well as the total number of available servers as a whole.
In order to find the top VPN provider, you also need to analyze the geographical distribution of all the available servers. This is a very important aspect of the analysis so that you will have a whole picture of the entire situation. Sometimes it is not enough to just have a higher number of available servers. It will be useless to have more than 5,000 servers if it is only confined to a single geographical region. Because if that is the case, then it is guaranteed that the virtual private network system will not work efficiently and effectively to other geographical regions that have far proximity to your current location.
Based on my technical knowledge and extensive experience with regards to VPN service providers, it is better to have 2,500 VPN servers that are distributed evenly rather than 5,000 VPN servers that are concentrated to a few server locations and geographical regions. The VPN server distribution should be balanced. One way of measuring the geographical distribution is by coming up with a percentage with regards to the number of servers in 1 geographical region to the entire number of available servers worldwide.
Bandwidth Limitation of The Best VPN Service Providers
Not all of the best VPN service providers are created equal. Depending on their service offerings, bandwidth limitations may vary. However, due to the nature of a virtual private network, it can actually defeat bandwidth throttling by various internet service providers and various video streaming services. The only thing that you need to observe is the percentage in the possible drop of internet speed whenever connected to a VPN connection.
Number of Virtual Servers of the Best VPN Service Providers
It is important to assess the number of virtual servers that are being used by the best VPN service providers in order to operate. This is because virtual servers must be only minimal as compared to the total number of VPN servers. Based on best practices, it should not exceed 1% to 2% of the total available servers. This means that at least 98% of the available servers must actually be physical servers. This has actually a strong effect in the performance of the virtual private network platforms.
In case you haven’t noticed, virtual servers can only mask your original I.P. address to make you appear that you are in another location. However, it might cause some issues with video streaming services with geo-restricted content. On top of that, the download speeds and upload speeds are critically affected and slowed down with virtual server locations since they are generally have less capacities than physical servers to process data that passes through the virtual private network. So you can actually fake your location using a virtual VPN server but it does not speed up the internet connection since it will largely depend on the capacity of the actual physical server where the virtual server is connected to.
There are also other virtual private network platforms that use server colocation strategy to make some of their VPN systems operational. You really have to be really worried about this particular strategy since the VPN service providers just rent servers from other data center companies with the server colocation strategy. This means that there is a 3rd party who has control and physical access to all of the data and information that passes through the servers. If not handled properly, this can cause breach in data privacy and information security.
4. Privacy & Security of the Best VPN Service Providers
The best VPN service providers must be able to hide and mask the original I.P. address of a particular person accessing the internet. In this way, your real location is hidden from the internet service providers and from people wanting to obtain your location. In this manner, you will also not become a target of various government agencies that have launched massive surveillance and intelligence gathering activities.
Number of I.P. Address That Is Acquired By the Best VPN Service Providers
The number of I.P. address that can be used to connect to the internet through a VPN connection is also very vital. It would really be better if the VPN service provider has a large set of I.P. addresses that can be easily deployed. This is primarily effective since it will be close to impossible that you will connect to the same I.P. address that you previously used. In this way, it will also be impossible for anyone to establish your identity as the user of the particular I.P. address that is attached to a particular virtual private network service provider. The number of I.P. address that can be used is also important factor when trying to bypass geo-restrictions placed by video streaming services such as Netflix. You don’t want video streaming services to ban your I.P. address for whatever reason.
Number of Dedicated I.P. Address You Can Get From the Best VPN Service Providers
It is actually important to count the number of Dedicated I.P. Address that you can acquire from the best VPN service providers. This is primarily due to the fact that it will increase your data privacy and information security since you are the sole user of the I.P. address. You are the only one who has complete control on how to use such dedicated I.P. server. No other person can abuse and misuse the I.P. address that you actually personally control. It lessens the probability that your I.P. address gets blacklisted due to spamming and other unwanted activities.
Internet Censorship Bypass Capability of the Best VPN Service Providers
You should look for various geo-spoofing functionalities as well as the internet censorship capabilities in assessing the best VPN service providers in the industry. As a matter of fact, you should know whether or not a particular virtual private network platform can bypass the Great Firewall of China. This particular firewall is one of the strictest internet censorship systems throughout the entire world.
a. Great Firewall of China
Without the help of the best VPN platform, People in China can’t access Facebook which is currently the most popular social networking site as of the moment. Without a top VPN service provider, all people living and currently residing in China also does not have any access to Wikipedia. It is really disheartening to know such predicament since Wikipedia is actually a free yet very reliable source of information about a wide array of topics. If you really want to continue using Twitter, then I urge you to find the best VPN provider that can bypass the Great Firewall of China effectively. The same is true for certain search engines used for web browsing. In fact, Google Search is deemed to be inaccessible if you are connected to the local internet service provider in the People’s Republic of China.
I need to remind you that not all virtual private network platforms are strong enough to break such firewall system. You really need to get a reliable virtual private network system that can defeat the internet censorship protocols implemented in China as of the moment.
b. Internet Censorship in Other Countries
Aside from the Great Firewall of China, there are also other countries with very strict policies with regards internet freedom. For example, only 4% of the total population of North Korea has access to the internet. As a matter of fact, there are only around 1,000 to 5,000 websites that can be accessed in North Korea. This is despite the fact that there are around 400 million active websites in the entire world just waiting to be explored online. Everything else is blocked by North Korea’s government and can’t be accessed locally without using the best VPN service provider in the industry.
In Saudi Arabia, there are more than 400,000 websites that have been blocked by the government. In fact, there was a time when Skype and WhatsApp were also prohibited in the country. Journalists and online newspapers are required to secure a special license in order to be able to publish content online. They are also being subjected to constant surveillance and threat assessment monitoring. This is the reason why press freedom and net neutrality has diminished in Saudi Arabia as the years pass by.
The only solution to this internet censorship problem in Saudi Arabia is to get a subscription plan from a reliable and efficient virtual private network service provider. If you are also living in Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, Syria, Tunisia, Vietnam, and Turkmenistan, then it is in your best interest to get the top VPN service provider to bypass internet censorship protocols.
Geo-Restricted Content of Video Streaming Services
Not all best VPN service providers are created equal. Some of them can completely remove the geo-restrictions placed by most video streaming services while some are struggling to keep up. In fact, my experienced revealed that it is only Netflix that can be easily be bypassed by most top VPN providers in the industry. All the other video streaming services are harder to fool through the use of geo-spoofing.
There are even other cases wherein Netflix along with other video streaming services such as Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney, BBC iPlayer and HBO GO can recognize that an internet connection is using a proxy server or virtual private network platform in order to bypass the geo-restrictions. They have certain safeguards in order to ward of VPN systems from infiltrating. They usually have VPN blockers. So access to the geo-restricted content of the majority of the video streaming services largely depend on geo-restriction bypass capability of the the virtual private network service provider.
On top of that, even if the VPN blocker system has been successfully bypassed by the best virtual private network platform, the speed of the video streaming can sometimes be affected if you are connected to the best VPN service provider. In this regard, video quality can be affected as well. There are also other times wherein you will experience video buffering before a particular video can be initially played. You need to watch out for all of these things when trying to honestly assess and compare various virtual private network systems.
Protocols Used By The Best VPN Service Providers
The best VPN service providers usually implement various VPN tunneling protocols. This includes but is not limited to OpenVPN, OpenSSH, PPTP, L2TP / IPSEC, SoftEther, WireGuard, SSTP, and IKEV2. These VPN tunneling protocols will be discussed in detail below.
a. OpenVPN
In case you haven’t noticed, OpenVPN is one of the most commonly used VPN tunneling protocols in the information security industry. As a matter of fact, this particular VPN tunneling protocol exists for 19 years already since its initial release in May 2001. Older version of VPN uses 160-bit encryption through the OpenSSL library. In recent years, OpenVPN is now using the 256-bit encryption to strengthen its security measures. Because of this, I can assure you that OpenVPN is one of the VPN tunneling protocols that have a very high level of security. Up to this day, any type of encryption that uses 256-bit keys can’t be hacked at all.
Even if it is highly secure VPN tunneling protocol, OpenVPN is also quite fast in terms of connection speed. You will not have any trouble connecting your local internet connection to the OpenVPN tunneling protocol as it is highly responsive. OpenVPN is also preferred by a majority of the best VPN service providers since the program is very stable. Often times, OpenVPN is the preferred method of establish a virtual private network connection through a router. Due to its high level of security while maintain the efficiency of connection speed,I prefer you to use the OpenVPN tunneling protocol if you are trying to send and receive confidential information to and from the internet.
b. PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol)
PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) is also one of the known VPN tunneling protocols in the industry that is being used by the best VPN service providers. However, this type of tunneling protocol serves a different purpose. It is not used to send and receive confidential through the internet. The PPTP VPN tunneling protocol is only used to upload and download torrent files efficiently and effectively. This is primarily because P2P file transfer is possible with this type of VPN tunneling protocol. It works effectively in sending and receiving torrent files because of the internet speed it can give.
Based on research and observation, the PPTP VPN tunneling protocol is faster than OpenVPN protocol. However, there is a downside to that. The PPTP VPN tunneling protocol is only faster because of its low encryption setting. As of this moment, PPTP only uses 128-bit encryption which is lower than the current standard.
In terms of privacy and security, the PPTP is now considered to be obsolete. There have been many security issues with this particular VPN tunneling protocol in the past. You have to understand that it is only effective in dealing with torrent files but not with confidential information.
c. WireGuard
WireGuard is another VPN tunneling protocol that is currently being developed in order to improve existing virtual private network tunneling protocols available in the industry. It has been initially released in 2015 and is improved as years passed by. In March 2020, the developers of WireGuard have been able to release a stable version of this particular VPN tunneling protocol. In the past, it only supports ChaCha20 encryption but is now currently exploring integrations with other forms of reliable encryption systems. WireGuard is also known for using Poly1305 as its preferred data authentication system. This VPN tunneling protocol is also known for using the Curve 25519 as its preferred key exchange.
Another noticeable thing about WireGuard is that is uses BLAKE2s for fast and efficient cryptographic hashing. In case you haven’t yet noticed, the BLAKE2s hashing algorithm is faster than the usual SHA-512, SHA-256, SHAKE-128, and SHA3-256. The good thing about is that security is not compromised even if the BLAKE2s is faster than most of the other hashing algorithm methods. As a matter of fact, the hashing algorithm used by WireGuard is as secure as the latest SHA-256 hashing function. Moreover, this particular VPN tunneling protocol has been able to integrate the Noise Protocol Framework system.
With these exciting new developments within the WireGuard VPN tunneling protocol, I’m sure that the best VPN service providers will use this as a standard in the near future. There are currently proposals that are being made to introduce this VPN tunneling protocol as a standard to the NIST.
5. Additional Features of the Best VPN Service Providers
The quality of the best VPN service providers can be judged based on the additional features and capabilities that can be used by people to protect their internet privacy and data security. In this regard, you should look for certain additional capabilities such as the Internet Kill Switch, Double VPN Technology, Split Tunneling, Private DNS, Zero Activity Logging Functionality, Stealth VPN, Tor Over VPN Technology, DNS Leak Protection System, WebRTC Leak Protection, and Smart DNS Functionality.
You should also try to find out if there are advanced features such as adware blocker and malware blocker that have been introduces in the virtual private network system. On top of that, look for any signs of the availability of P2P servers. All of the additional features cited above will be discussed in great detail in the next section of this post.
Internet Kill Switch of the Best VPN Service Providers
The Internet Kill Switch program is one of the main advanced features of the best VPN Service providers that you should look for whenever analyzing virtual private network systems. This is a failsafe mechanism against encountering a possible disconnection from the virtual private network platform. Nobody wants to be disconnected to the virtual private network especially when accessing confidential files because it will leave you totally vulnerable.
You will lose the protection of the VPN system if you are disconnected from it. This means that any online activity or any web browsing activity that you make can be seen by internet service providers and by other people conducting surveillance and intelligence gathering. You are not safe from hackers either. This is the reason why an Internet Kill Switch program has been created. Once the Internet Kill Switch is activated, your access to the internet is automatically blocked if the VPN connection that you established earlier has dropped unexpectedly for no apparent reason.
In this way, your online identity, internet privacy, along with your web browsing history and information security will not be compromised at all. Since the internet connection is automatically cut off when the VPN connection drops, there is no time for internet service providers and hackers to gain access to your critical information such as online activities and current location.
While most of the best VPN service providers now have Internet Kill Switch programs integrated into their virtual private network platforms, you have still have to know that not all of them are created equal. As a matter of fact, you need to test the various Internet Kill Switch Programs one by one just to be sure that they are really working. Based on my experience, there are other virtual private network platforms that have some issues with their Internet Kill Switch programs. This is the reason why it will never be enough just to know that they have such kind of Internet Kill Switch Program. You really have to conduct due diligence and test such additional capability.
If possible, you should set the Internet Kill Switch Program to block all forms of unsecured internet connection outside of the virtual private network system. With this particular setup, you will also not be able to access the internet if you haven’t connected to a virtual private network server first. This is very important since there are times wherein you forget to connect to a VPN platform first before accessing the internet. This step solves the problem conveniently. Indeed, having an Internet Kill Switch program has been a necessity for top VPN service providers in recent years.
Double VPN Technology of the Best VPN Service Providers
Choose the best VPN service provider that offers Double VPN Technology. It is really of high value especially when you are obsessed with internet privacy and data security measures. This is primarily due to the fact that the Double VPN Technology which is also known as Multi-Hop VPN capability doubles your encryption effectively.
If the virtual private network system is using 256-bit AES encryption for example and you use the Double VPN capability of the VPN service provider, then it will really be impossible for anyone to hack your internet connection. Not even the best and the brightest people in the different intelligence gathering agencies of various nations can eavesdrop on your online activities and track your location. This is because even if they can potentially break the 256-bit AES encryption, they are still faced with another 256-bit AES encryption due to the Multi-Hop VPN protection. It will be twice as hard to break the encryption with the Double VPN technology.
What the Multi-Hop VPN technology does is that it connects to one of the VPN servers of the virtual private network platform first and then it connects to another server of the same VPN service provider. This means that tracking your location will be impossible because you are connected to a series of VPN servers all at once.
Just in case anyone have successfully breaks the encryption and algorithm of the VPN service provider, your original location is still kept safe with the use of the Double VPN protection. This is because you are in 3 different locations all at once. On top of that, using Multi-Hop VPN Capability can solve potential problems such as I.P. leak, DNS leak and WebRTC leak due to the extra layer of security and encryption.
There are also other best VPN service providers that can cascade up to a maximum of 4 VPN server connections all at once. Imagine how strong the encryption is if the VPN service provider has used this kind of technology. Indeed, the Multi-Hop VPN Capability is best for people who are paranoid with internet privacy and security.
One thing that you should know about Double VPN technology is that it slows down the speed of the internet connection whenever you are connected to it. I only advice you to use this if you are doing confidential transactions over the internet such as online banking and uploading and downloading confidential files.
Split Tunneling of the Best VPN Service Providers
The split tunneling feature of the best VPN service providers have become very vital in recent years. This primarily solves the slow internet connection problem while connected to a virtual private network platform. With the use of the split tunneling feature, you can minimize the use of bandwidth which causes the internet connection to slow down.
The split tunneling capability allows you to control what websites and computer application programs can bypass the VPN connection. All other websites and computer application programs that have not been selected will automatically pass through the VPN connection mandatorily.In this manner, the bandwidth is conserved since you can use 2 different servers for the internet connection at once. The internet traffic will not be as congested as it should be if you make good use of the VPN split tunneling feature.
On top of that, the presence of the VPN slit tunneling capability minimizes the possibility of experiencing certain issues such as inability to access local internet services while using foreign internet services. It also significantly reduces the possibility of experiencing technical problems connecting to local area network (LAN) devices while using a virtual private network system.
Another good thing that the split tunneling feature of the best VPN service providers can bring is that you can upload and download files securely without compromising the connection speed of your other online activities.
Based on my experience in testing various virtual private network platforms, top VPN service providers can either implement a split tunneling feature or an inverse split tunneling feature. Both serve the same purpose but the manner of delivering it is quite different.
In the inverse split tunneling feature, the system allows you to select certain websites and application programs that pass through the VPN connection. All other online activities that have not been selected will automatically pass through the normal internet connection without the protection of a virtual private network system.
Stealth VPN Feature of the Best VPN Service Providers
The stealth VPN feature of the best VPN service providers is efficient and effective in bypassing the geo-restrictions set forth by various video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO GO. While most of the virtual private network systems can do that, you can never discount the possibility that various video streaming services now currently use VPN blockers whenever you try to spoof your location.
Without the stealth VPN feature, the video streaming services will be able to determine whether you are using a virtual private network system or not. If the video streaming services found out that you are connected to a proxy server or a VPN, it will not grant you access to geo-restricted content.
The stealth VPN feature of the top VPN service providers disguises your internet traffic as normal so that it can bypass deep packet inspections and DPI firewalls. This is possible through the efficient and effective use of server obfuscation.
Tor Over VPN Technology of the Best VPN Service Providers
The Tor over VPN technology of the best VPN service providers is actually very important in internet privacy. This is primarily because connecting to a reliable virtual private network first before connecting to a Tor browser actually adds an extra layer of security. This type of capability has been one of the most viable options as a substitute whenever the double VPN technology or the Multi-Hop VPN advanced capability is not available with a particular top VPN service provider.
In case you are not yet aware yet, the Tor servers was originally created to hide the exact location of a person browsing and using the internet as well as conceal all of the online activities the person is doing. The Tor servers were initially launched in 2002 with the help of the US Navy and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). As of 2016, there are currently more than 7,000 servers or relays under the Tor Project. Currently speaking, approximately 2,000 of the Tor servers function as entry modes while approximately 1,000 servers are assigned as exit nodes. This means that around 4,000 servers serve as gateways for the entry nodes and the exit nodes to communicate with each other.
While the Tor browser has been efficient and effective in hiding people’s internet traffic, web browsing history as well as location in the past, there have been lots of rumors that there are certain exploits that can defeat the privacy and security measures that have been installed in the Tor project. As a matter of fact many people browsing the Tor network are cautious since the original development of this project relied heavily on U.S. government resources. In case you haven’t noticed, the U.S. government is really fond of conducting surveillance as well as intelligence gathering activities that is intrusive to the privacy of the people. This particular issue has been one of the reasons why people started using the best VPN service provider instead.
There are also other volunteers that put up Tor servers and relays that they can control accordingly. They set up their own Tor entry nodes and their own exit nodes. This means that with the help of supercomputers that have advanced computational powers, interpolation can be done which can compromise the bridge relays. If that happens then the 3 layers of server encryption can be broken down. In fact there have been numerous claims that FBI agents and government intelligence agencies have put up their own Tor relays to expose the identity and location of the Tor browser users. Using the Tor network alone without the help of an efficient and effective virtual private network platform is very dangerous. It is for this reason why people have started to use the Tor Over VPN Technology.
To prevent the possible breach in privacy and data security, it is best to use the Tor Over VPN capability of the best VPN service providers. The virtual private network platform protects your internet privacy as well as web browsing history just in case the Tor network connection has been compromised accidentally. On top of that, the original I.P. address you are using is kept hidden and can’t be seen by the Tor network since you connected to the VPN system first. Moreover, the Tor over VPN functionality allows you to hide your Tor network usage from your local internet service provider.
When you connect to the best VPN service provider first, the Tor browser can only detect and see the I.P. address of the VPN server which you are currently connected to. The original I.P. address is never exposed. Aside from that, the data that passes through the VPN connection is already encrypted before entering the Tor network. This means that there is no way for the Tor network to see the original data that is being sent and received through the internet connection. This is the reason why in the absence of the Multi-Hop VPN capability, the Tor Over VPN technology is used instead. You should also be aware that some of the best VPN service providers have already some integration with the Tor network. This type of special VPN servers that are connected to the Tor network can be seen in the server list inside the graphic user interface of the virtual private network platform.
Zero Activity Logs Capability of the Best VPN Service Providers
One of the things that you should look for whenever evaluating the best VPN service providers is the zero-logging capability of the virtual private network systems. It might give you a false sense of security when you use a VPN service without analyzing the type of logs and records it keeps. While it is true that your original I.P. address is hidden from the local internet service provider, the virtual private network platform can still see and record your original I.P. address that you are using. This is the reason why you should read the privacy policy of the best VPN service provider first. Look for any sign or clue that will lead you to the conclusion that it implements a zero-activity logging policy.
Even if it expressly states that it uses a zero-activity logging security measure, you still need to determine the country where the corporate headquarters of the best VPN service provider is located. This is primarily because there are certain countries and jurisdictions that have very strict enforcement of mandatory surveillance and intelligence gathering activities in the name of national security. As much as possible, avoid any VPN service provider that mainly operates in the jurisdiction of the “Five Eyes Alliance.” This consortium of intelligence agencies includes the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
Based on research and analysis, even if the virtual private network service provider has claimed to be implementing the zero-logging policy, there might be some backdoors that can be exploited by the intelligence gathering government agencies within the “Five Eyes Alliance.” Sometimes, there some contradictory statements within the privacy policy page of the VPN service provider. This happens very often so you need to take precautionary steps in selecting the top VPN service provider.
It would be illegal for the virtual private network companies to tell their users directly that their records are being summoned by the concerned government authorities. They can only indirectly tell the possible breach in information security through a warrant canary. This is basically a regularly published official statement from the virtual private network service provider that confirms that they have not been approached by any government agency that issues a legal search warrant to gain access to the users’ records.
In order to be sure that the best VPN service provider is really executing the zero-logging policy, you need to assess whether it logs the original I.P. address and the I.P. addresses that you use whenever you connect to one of the servers of the VPN provider. These data points should never be recorded so that you can be assured that your location will never be compromised. You also need to analyze whether or not the top VPN service provider uses 3rd party tracking tools such as Google Analytics. This can potentially compromise your internet privacy so you need to make sure that the VPN system is free from such kind of tracking tools.
You should also know whether or not the virtual private network platform records the websites you visit. If it does, then the VPN service provider actually violates the terms and conditions within the privacy policy especially if it claims to implement a zero-logging policy. On top of that, you should also scrutinize whether or not the best VPN service provider keeps records of the specific data and time that you connect to the virtual private network platform. While this data point can’t personally identify you, it is still best to know how everything works.
Ad Blocker & Malware Blocker of the Best VPN Service Providers
It is also important to know whether a particular best VPN service provider has integrated advanced capabilities such as ad blocker and malware blocker. In case you haven’t yet noticed, an ad blocker can lessen the probability that you will click on malicious ads that can potentially breach your information security. Aside from that, your web browsing experience is significantly improved if unnecessary ads are blocked automatically by default. In some cases, it can even block 3rd party cookies which gathers data based on your web browsing history and other online activities.
The malware blocker, on the other hand, limits the chances of you experiencing cyberattacks such as ransomware as well as virus and computer worm intrusion. In this way, your privacy and protection is not only online but also extends offline. Hackers can still gain access to your confidential data if they have successfully penetrated your local computer through various attack vectors using various malware programs. This is the reason why a malware blocker integrated in the best VPN service provider becomes handy in the process.
What are your thoughts on the best VPN service providers? Let us know down below!